Case for a Mobile Electronic Device

ABSTRACT

A case for an electronic device such as a cellular phone or tablet comprising a back panel connected to a band. The interior surface of the back panel includes a plurality of protrusions that dissipate impact energy while also providing a channel to allow for convective heat transfer. The band is connected to the rear panel and also includes protrusions on an interior surface to dissipate impact energy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and the benefit of the filing date based on U.S. provisional application No. 62/697,967, filed Jul. 13, 2018, under 35 USC § 119, where the provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a case for a mobile electronic device, such as a cellular phone or tablet. More specifically, the invention relates to a protective case that incorporates protrusions to aid in energy dissipation in the event the device is dropped while also managing heat emanating from the device.

Electronic devices have become an integral part of the daily activities of many people. With increased use, the risk of dropping the electronic device and causing damage to that device also increases. Coupled with the fact that a cellular phone or tablet can be expensive, many consumers are opting to use protective cases to mitigate the risk of causing accidental damage to their devices. While there are many devices on the market, some provide adequate protection, but are bulky, while others are slimmer, but fail to provide sufficient protection to the device.

Moreover, as the computing power and battery capacity of devices improve, many mobile devices produce significant heat output. As such, there is a need for more effective heat management to prevent damage to the device. Many cases fail to address heat issues as they are constructed from materials that act as heat insulators or are designed in way that prevents heat transfer. Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a protective case that provides drop protection while also effectively managing heat output of the device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the present invention is a case used in connection with an electronic device, the case comprising a plurality of protrusions that aid in the dissipation of energy, while also forming channels to allow convective transfer of heat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the case according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an alternative view, showing an interior portion of the case.

FIG. 3 is an alternative view, showing an exterior portion of the case.

FIG. 4 is an alternative view of the case.

FIG. 5 is an alternative view of the case.

FIG. 6 is an alternative view of the case.

FIG. 7 is an alternative view of the case.

FIG. 8 is an alternative view of the case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the case 100 according to one embodiment. The case 100 may be constructed of a polymer, such as polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, or polydimethylsiloxane, rubber, or any similar material. As shown in FIG. 1, the case 100 comprises a back panel 101 surrounded by a band 110. The band 110 may comprise a pair of parallel long edges 111 and a pair of parallel short edges 112 (as shown in FIGS. 6-7). The back panel 101 has an interior surface 102 and an exterior surface 103. The interior surface 102 is adapted to contact a surface of an electronic device when in use. Further, at least a portion of the interior surface 102 is covered in a plurality of protrusions 104. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the exterior surface 103 is flat, allowing the case to easily slide into a user's pocket. However, in alternative embodiments, the exterior surface 103 may include a plurality of protrusions 104, similar to the interior surface 102, or a texture. Further shown in FIG. 3 is a cut-out for the lens of the device's camera. Similarly, FIGS. 4-5 show cut-outs in the band 110 for volume and power buttons.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the protrusions 104 are pyramid-shaped, with the base 105 of the pyramid disposed on the interior surface 102 of the back panel 101 and the apex 106 of the pyramid facing away from the interior surface 102. While pyramids are described in this example embodiment, other shapes having a wider base 105 than apex 106 can be used. For example, a tetrahedron, frustrum, wedge, or dome could be used. In other words, the protrusions 104 have a wide base 105 adjacent to the interior surface 102 of the back panel 101 with a narrower apex 106 distal from the interior surface 102.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the pyramid-shaped protrusions 104 have straight sides with an angle between the side of the protrusion 104 and the interior surface 102 of less than 45 degrees. For a given base of the pyramid, smaller angles will decrease the overall height of the protrusion 104, allowing for a slimmer case 100 but reducing the distance the protrusions 104 can deflect in the event of a drop or other impact (as will be discussed in greater detail below). As a result, the protrusions 104 may have an angle greater than 45 degrees for greater impact protection, or less than 45 degrees for a slimmer case 100.

When the case 100 is used in connection with an electronic device, such as a phone or tablet, the apex 106 of the protrusion contacts a surface of the electronic device. When the electronic device is at rest and not experiencing an acceleration, such as the acceleration that occurs when the device falls and contacts the ground or other hard surface, a surface of the phone will be supported with little or no compression of the protrusions 104. However, in the event of a fall, as the phone decelerates, the plurality of protrusions 104 will begin to compress as the kinetic energy of the phone is transferred into the case 100. For low energy impacts, the protrusions 104 may compress only in the area of the apex 106. Conversely, for high energy impacts, the protrusions 104 may compress to the base 105. Because of the tapered shape of the protrusions 104, further compression will lead to a greater ability to dissipate the energy of the impact. Stated differently, the shape of the protrusion allows energy dissipation at an increasing rate. The ‘ramp-up’ in dissipation in the protrusions is commensurate with the increase in energy experienced by the electronic device.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the plurality of protrusions 104 are arranged to create a first set of channels 107 that run from the top to the bottom of the case, parallel to a pair of long edges 111 of the band 110. More specifically, the first set of channels 107 is the space between a row of protrusions 104 and an adjacent row of protrusions 104. When used with an electronic device, the channels 107 maintain air space between the interior surface 102 of the case 100 and the back surface of the electronic device. A second set of channels 108 is formed between adjacent rows of protrusions 104 that run parallel to a pair of short edges 112 of the band 110. Stated differently, channels 107 run from the top to bottom of the case 100, whereas channels 108 run from side to side.

Modern electronic devices often expel a significant amount of heat when in use. As such, effective heat management is beneficial for the performance and reliability of the device. Some electronic devices are constructed with aluminum, a material that is a good heat conductor, to act as a heat sink. However, protective cases are often constructed of plastics or other polymer materials that are insulators and are less effective at transferring heat. With a tight fitting case, heat generated by the device is trapped at the source and cannot be dissipated into the surrounding environment. Further, localized heating can occur in areas of the electronic device that generate the most heat, such as the battery or processor. The first set 107 and second set 108 of channels in the case of the present invention mitigates the risk of heat build-up through a convective heat transfer process within the channels 107 and 108. That is, hot air in one location can be transported within the space of the first set 107 or second set 108 of channels to cooler areas, preventing localized heating. In one embodiment, the channels 107 and 108 comprise greater than 25% of the surface area of the interior surface 102. In an alternative embodiment, the channels 107 and 108 comprise greater than 50% of the surface area of the interior surface 102. With increasing surface area of the channels 107 and 108, the size or number of protrusions 104 decreases, reducing the ability of the case 100 to absorb shock. As a result, the design of the case can be varied to balance the tradeoff between impact protection and heat management.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, ridges 113 may be disposed on the interior surface of the band 110. The ridges 113, or raised cross-hatching, provide impact absorption along the edge of the electronic device. Because heat management is not as important along the edge of the device, channels 107 and 108 are not included. However, in alternative embodiments, pyramid-shaped protrusions 104 may be included on the band 110 as well.

While the disclosure has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modification can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A case comprising: a band comprising a pair of long edges and a pair of short edges; a back panel, wherein the back panel is connected to the band at a perimeter of the back panel; a plurality of protrusions disposed on an interior surface of the back panel; a first set of channels formed in the space between the plurality of protrusions, wherein the first set of channels are aligned parallel to the pair of long edges of the band; a second set of channels formed in the space between the plurality of protrusions, wherein the second set of channels are aligned parallel to the pair of short edges of the band; wherein the second set of channels are perpendicular to the first set of channels.
 2. The case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are pyramid-shaped.
 3. The case of claim 2, wherein an angle between sides of the plurality of protrusions and the interior surface of the back panel is greater than 45 degrees.
 4. The case of claim 2, wherein an angle between sides of the plurality of protrusions and the interior surface of the back panel is less than 45 degrees.
 5. The case of claim 1, wherein an area of the first set of channels and the second set of channels is greater than 25% of the area of the interior surface of the back panel.
 6. The case of claim 1, wherein an area of the first set of channels and the second set of channels is greater than 50% of the area of the interior surface of the back panel.
 7. The case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are tapered, having a wide base adjacent to the interior surface of the back panel and a narrower apex distal from the interior surface of the back panel.
 8. The case of claim 1 further comprising ridges disposed on the band.
 9. The case of claim 1, wherein the first set of channels are straight.
 10. The case of claim 1, wherein the second set of channels are straight. 